Abstract: An exemplary system includes a sound processor apparatus that is configured for external use by a patient and includes 1) a position sensor that detects a positioning of the sound processor apparatus and 2) a control module that is communicatively coupled to the position sensor and performs a predetermined action with respect to the system in accordance with the detected positioning of the sound processor apparatus. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system for a patient includes a cochlear implant, a sound processor, and an implantable battery configured to be implanted within the patient. The cochlear implant is configured to 1) determine that a signal is not being provided to the cochlear implant by a device external to the patient, 2) determine, in response to the determination that the signal is not being provided to the cochlear implant, that an amount of power remaining in the implantable battery is above a predetermined threshold amount, and 3) initiate, in response to the determination that the amount of power remaining in the implantable battery is above the predetermined threshold, an idle mode in which the cochlear implant remains powered on while waiting for one or more signals to be provided to the cochlear implant by the device external to the patient.

Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor apparatus having 1) an interface assembly that includes at least a first contact that facilitates interchangeable connectivity of a plurality of external components to the sound processor apparatus, the plurality of external components including a programming system, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the first contact and that communicates with each of the plurality of external components by way of the first contact. The exemplary auditory prosthesis system may also include a wireless module configured to be interchangeably connected to the interface assembly in place of the programming system, wherein, while the wireless module is interchangeably connected to the interface assembly, the wireless module is communicatively coupled to the control module by way of the first contact. Corresponding auditory prosthesis systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a sound processor apparatus that is configured for external use by a patient and includes 1) a position sensor that detects a positioning of the sound processor apparatus and 2) a control module that is communicatively coupled to the position sensor and performs a predetermined action with respect to the system in accordance with the detected positioning of the sound processor apparatus. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor apparatus that is configured for external use by a patient and includes 1) a position sensor that detects a positioning of the sound processor apparatus and 2) a control module that is communicatively coupled to the position sensor and performs a predetermined action with respect to the auditory prosthesis system in accordance with the detected positioning of the sound processor apparatus. Corresponding auditory prosthesis systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes cochlear implant circuitry, which is disposed within a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient, performing the following: 1) detecting that an implantable antenna is connected to a modular connector coupled to the cochlear implant module, 2) operating in accordance with a radio frequency (“RF”) inductive link communication protocol while the implantable antenna is connected to the modular connector, 3) detecting a disconnection of the implantable antenna from the modular connector and a connection of an implantable sound processor to the modular connector, and 4) dynamically switching from operating in accordance with the RF inductive link communication protocol to operating in accordance with a hard wired baseband link communication protocol in response to the connection of the implantable sound processor to the modular connector.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor apparatus includes 1) an earhook interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that is configured to interchangeably connect to a microphone assembly and an EAS receiver assembly by way of the plurality of contacts, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts. In some examples, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as output ports to output one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly while the EAS receiver assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system for a patient includes a cochlear implant, a sound processor, and an implantable battery configured to be implanted within the patient. The cochlear implant is configured to 1) determine that a signal is not being provided to the cochlear implant by a device external to the patient, 2) determine, in response to the determination that the signal is not being provided to the cochlear implant, that an amount of power remaining in the implantable battery is above a predetermined threshold amount, and 3) initiate, in response to the determination that the amount of power remaining in the implantable battery is above the predetermined threshold, an idle mode in which the cochlear implant remains powered on while waiting for one or more signals to be provided to the cochlear implant by the device external to the patient.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system includes 1) a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient, 2) a sound processor configured to be located external to the patient and to direct the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 3) an implantable battery configured to be implanted within the patient and to provide operating power for the cochlear implant. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor apparatus includes 1) an earhook interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that is configured to interchangeably connect to a microphone assembly and an EAS receiver assembly by way of the plurality of contacts, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts. In some examples, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as output ports to output one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly while the EAS receiver assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and comprising cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, 2) an implantable sound processor module configured to be implanted within the patient and comprising sound processor circuitry configured to optically transmit data and/or power to the cochlear implant circuitry, and 3) an optical connector assembly configured to facilitate removable coupling of the implantable sound processor module to the cochlear implant module by way of the optical connector assembly. The optical connector assembly comprises one or more optical fibers configured to facilitate the optical transmission of the data and/or the power from the sound processor circuitry to the cochlear implant circuitry while the implantable sound processor module is removably coupled to the cochlear implant module by way of the optical connector assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor apparatus that is configured for external use by a patient and includes 1) a position sensor that detects a positioning of the sound processor apparatus and 2) a control module that is communicatively coupled to the position sensor and performs a predetermined action with respect to the auditory prosthesis system in accordance with the detected positioning of the sound processor apparatus. Corresponding auditory prosthesis systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor included in a cochlear implant system associated with a patient may 1) identify a loudness level of an audio signal presented to the patient, 2) determine that a stimulation pulse amplitude corresponding to the loudness level is greater than a maximum stimulation pulse amplitude allowed by a compliance voltage associated with a cochlear implant implanted within the patient, and 3) direct, in response to the determination that the stimulation pulse amplitude is greater than a maximum stimulation pulse amplitude allowed by the compliance voltage, the cochlear implant to represent the loudness level to the patient by directing the cochlear implant to generate and apply one or more stimulation pulses to the patient in accordance with at least one of a first encoding scheme that includes pulse density modulation and a second encoding scheme that includes a combination of pulse amplitude modulation and pulse width modulation.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes cochlear implant circuitry, which is disposed within a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient, performing the following: 1) detecting that an implantable antenna is connected to a modular connector coupled to the cochlear implant module, 2) operating in accordance with a radio frequency (“RF”) inductive link communication protocol while the implantable antenna is connected to the modular connector, 3) detecting a disconnection of the implantable antenna from the modular connector and a connection of an implantable sound processor to the modular connector, and 4) dynamically switching from operating in accordance with the RF inductive link communication protocol to operating in accordance with a hard wired baseband link communication protocol in response to the connection of the implantable sound processor to the modular connector.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor apparatus includes 1) an earhook interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that is configured to interchangeably connect to a microphone assembly and an EAS receiver assembly by way of the plurality of contacts, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that is configured to selectively operate in an input mode or in an output mode. While operating in the input mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as input ports to receive one or more audio signals detected by the microphone assembly while the microphone assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly. While operating in the output mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as output ports to output one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly while the EAS receiver assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor apparatus having 1) an interface assembly that includes at least a first contact that facilitates interchangeable connectivity of a plurality of external components to the sound processor apparatus, the plurality of external components including a programming system, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the first contact and that communicates with each of the plurality of external components by way of the first contact. The exemplary auditory prosthesis system may also include a wireless module configured to be interchangeably connected to the interface assembly in place of the programming system, wherein, while the wireless module is interchangeably connected to the interface assembly, the wireless module is communicatively coupled to the control module by way of the first contact. Corresponding auditory prosthesis systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and comprising cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 2) a modular connector coupled to the cochlear implant module by way of a cable and configured to be implanted within the patient. The modular connector may be removably connected to an implantable antenna in order to facilitate communicative coupling of the implantable antenna to the cochlear implant circuitry. In this configuration, the cochlear implant circuitry may wirelessly communicate with a sound processor located external to the patient. The modular connector may alternatively be removably connected to an implantable sound processor. In this configuration, the cochlear implant circuitry and the implantable sound processor may communicate one with another by way of a wired connection. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes generating, by an external control device selectively and communicatively coupled to an implantable stimulator, a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator, determining, by the external control device, a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame, determining, by the external control device, an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level, and selecting, by the external control device in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at substantially the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes 1) detecting, by an auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted in a patient, a communicative coupling of a sound processor to the auditory prosthesis, the sound processor configured to be located external to the patient, and 2) logging, by the auditory prosthesis, data associated with an operation of the sound processor while the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the auditory prosthesis. Corresponding auditory prostheses and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system for facilitating binaural hearing by a cochlear implant patient includes 1) a spectral analysis facility configured to divide a first audio signal presented to a first ear of the patient and a second audio signal presented to a second ear of the patient into first and second sets of analysis channels, respectively, and 2) a processing facility configured to process acoustic content contained in a first analysis channel included in the first set of analysis channels and acoustic content contained in a second analysis channel included in the second set of analysis channels, mix the processed acoustic content contained in the first and second analysis channels, and direct a cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of the mixed acoustic content to the first ear by way of a stimulation channel that corresponds to the first analysis channel.